What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantNiacinamide
SmoothingCyclohexasiloxane
EmollientButylene Glycol
HumectantDimethicone
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningSodium Chloride
MaskingCetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeLauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
Skin ConditioningBetaine
HumectantDimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer
Silica
AbrasiveSodium Citrate
BufferingSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPanthenol
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningAllantoin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingAnthemis Nobilis Flower Extract
MaskingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
HumectantLactic Acid
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantRosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialPalmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Skin ConditioningWater, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Cyclohexasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Chloride, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Betaine, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Silica, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Allantoin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Lactic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Dipropylene Glycol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Niacinamide
SmoothingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialSoluble Collagen
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
HumectantSqualane
EmollientSalvia Officinalis Extract
AntimicrobialBetula Alba Bark Extract
MaskingGlycerin
HumectantWater
Skin ConditioningMethicone
EmollientAlcohol
AntimicrobialTrimethylsiloxysilicate
EmollientSilica
AbrasiveButylene Glycol
HumectantPEG-8
HumectantMethyl/Phenyl Polysilsesquioxane
PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone
EmulsifyingSodium Chloride
MaskingPEG-8 Dimethicone
EmulsifyingC13-14 Isoparaffin
EmollientCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientErythritol
HumectantPEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Sesquiisostearate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Citrate
BufferingPolymethylhydrogensiloxane
Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
BufferingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantTrisodium EDTA
Talc
AbrasiveTetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane
Tetradecene
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeParfum
MaskingTitanium Dioxide
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77491
Cosmetic ColorantCI 77492
Cosmetic ColorantNiacinamide, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Squalane, Salvia Officinalis Extract, Betula Alba Bark Extract, Glycerin, Water, Methicone, Alcohol, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Silica, Butylene Glycol, PEG-8, Methyl/Phenyl Polysilsesquioxane, PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Sodium Chloride, PEG-8 Dimethicone, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Erythritol, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Citrate, Polymethylhydrogensiloxane, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Citric Acid, Sodium Metabisulfite, Trisodium EDTA, Talc, Tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane, Tetradecene, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Titanium Dioxide, CI 77491, CI 77492
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinNiacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a naturally occurring mineral. It is used as a fine, spherical, and porous powder in cosmetics.
Though it has exfoliant properties, the function of silica varies depending on the product.
The unique structure of silica enhances the spreadability and adds smoothness, making it a great texture enhancer.
It is also used as an active carrier, emulsifier, and mattifier due to its ability to absorb excess oil.
In some products, tiny microneedles called spicules are made from silica or hydrolyzed sponge. When you rub them in, they lightly polish away dead skin layers and enhance the penetration of active ingredients.
Learn more about SilicaChances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt. This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.
You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.
You might see people debate whether Sodium Chloride is comedogenic, but there actually haven't been any comedogenic tests done on it. Either way, the overall formulation of a product matters a lot more than any single ingredient.
You might see this ingredient used in scrubs as a primary exfoliating ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium ChlorideSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water